TY - JOUR A1 - Edler, Simon A1 - Schels, Andreas A1 - Herdl, Florian A1 - Hansch, Walter A1 - Bachmann, Michael A1 - Dudeck, Markus A1 - Duesberg, Felix A1 - Pahlke, Andreas A1 - Hausladen, Matthias A1 - Buchner Philipp, A1 - Schreiner, Rupert T1 - Origin of the current saturation level of p-doped silicon field emitters T2 - Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B N2 - Using p-type semiconductors for field emitters is one simple way to realize an integrated current limiter to improve the lifetime of the cathode. In this work, the origin of the current saturation of p-type silicon emitters is investigated in detail. Single emitters are electrically characterized and compared to simulation results. With a simulation model considering a high surface generation rate and elevated tip temperature, a good agreement to the measured data is found. This observation is supported further by alteration of the surface experimentally. Electrical measurements after different treatments in hydrofluoric acid as well as heated and subsequent operation at room temperature are well explained by the influence of surface generation. Furthermore, it is shown that the field penetration leads to a small voltage drop and a strong geometry-dependent reduction of the field enhancement factor. KW - EMISSION KW - GROWTH KW - NATIVE-OXIDE Y1 - 2022 UR - https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-oth-regensburg/frontdoor/index/index/docId/2550 VL - 40 IS - 1 PB - AIP Publishing ER -